De Vere Horsley Estate

Breakfast was delicious, and the library/bar was a lovely place to sit with a drink. The Tower itself is beautiful and fascinating, with plenty to see just walking around the house and grounds. We stayed in the tower, where the room fixtures, fittings and furniture were impeccable, and the customer service was very good. I’d recommend a room in the old tower for the full estate experience. It was very quiet the night we stayed, though, so the reception and bar in that part of the hotel weren’t staffed. The restaurant wasn’t open that evening either, but the Duke of Wellington pub a couple of hundred metres down the road made for a really good meal. We didn’t try the spa or pool. There was a wedding on the day we left, and there was some noise in the morning while they were setting up.

The Towers are historic and full of character, while the main building is modern and holds the facilities. We stayed in the Towers, a few minutes’ walk away. It was comfortable and a novel experience, though there are lots of stairs, the plumbing could be better, and the nature of the building makes it hard to keep clean.

We got very good value for a last-minute booking for a short weekend away. The room was comfortable and clean, and the grounds were nice to explore. We stayed in the Towers, a pleasant short walk from the main building and its breakfast and amenities. There were tea, coffee and water stations around the hotel, a nice touch after a walk. The pool was also very nice, although the changing rooms felt cramped. Breakfast was included, with good hot food and everything else as expected. A few little things needed attention in the room, but they didn’t affect our stay. The TV had no remote, and the one we were given only controlled the volume. We barely used it anyway. For a reasonable price, it was a good stay with comfortable rooms and useful facilities. Ideal for a short visit, and I’d stay again.

The rooms look nice, with big beds and pleasant soap, but staying in the Towers was frustrating. The windows didn’t seal properly and our first room was cold. They kindly moved us, and the heating in the new room worked well. Getting help in the Towers was a real problem. There’s no lift or staff member there to assist with luggage, which would be difficult for older guests. I tried the room phone for reception nearly 10 times without getting through, then called from my own phone five times and got no answer. I did around 20 laps of the Towers during my stay trying to find someone for help, food or a drink, since those meant going to another building. At the coffee station, all six cartons of plant-based milk were covered in mould. They also don’t have a sauna, steam room or room service. I’ve stayed at De Vere hotels in two other locations and they were brilliant. I can’t say the same about this one. The stay wasn’t terrible, but unfortunately I won’t be back.